The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-12-17
UNTIL"


trine contained in the cluster of para
bles in the fifteenth chapter of Luke's
gospel. 1t relates to the word s'until''
as used in these parallels, and the sug-
gestive emphasis which is placed upon
it in the narrative. Our contemporary
expounds the parallels in reference to
this word in the following excellent
manner:
The man who has lost sheep goes
out after it, and he hunts for it, and
keeps on hunting ''until" he finds it.
He does not hunt until he has exhausted
all the probable places where the miss
ing sheep may be found, and then stop.
He does not hunt until he is wearied,
or his patience gives out and his spirits
flag, and then desist; but he hunts ''untiL
he finds it."
The woman who has lost piece of
silver, lights lamp, and sweeps the
house, and seeks diligently until she
finds it." She is not content to search
with an eye unaided; she lights lamp.
1t is not enough to sweep a small space;
she sweeps the house. A careless, in
different seeking does not meet the
case; she seeks diligently. She contin-
ues seeking "asatiC' the lost piece is
found.
The same is true of the father
whose son has wandered off into prodi-
gality, though the word is not expressly
used. The father waits and watches,
and watches and waits, "untiL' the son
comes to himself, and turns his steps
homeward. 1t was protracted period
of anxiety. No father could watch
and wait in that way without Sc
we're strain on his forbearance and love.
There would be moments when his
own heart would sink within him, and
misgivings would conquer hope, or per-
chance when friends would deride ex-
pectations so long cherished and so
steadily and bitterly disappointed.
But the father of the parable never
abandoned his confidence and his out
look. He waited and watched until
the son returned.
After this admirable introduction
our contemporary was well prepared to
advance and make the application ac-
cording to the plain import of the para
bles, but instead of this, it branches off
into little practical discourse on the
necessity of following up various spec
lied good works "until'' they are made
successful, such as carrying forward
the benevolent enterprises Of the
church to their consummation; the
reading of good books ''until" they are
mastered; the warfare against evil
''until' victory is assured, etc. This
it calls ''the gospel of UNTIL" and it
is the general lesson which is drawn
from the parallels so intelligently ex-
pounded in the beginning.
But the Advance entirely overlooks
the most sublime lesson of these para
bles, and diverts attention from the
main thought of the Master in thus
turning the word 'until'' to these uses,
excellent as they may be in themselves
considered. The gospel of the fifteenth
chapter of Luke has higher meaning
and one more co-extensive with the
need and hope of the world than is re-
vealed in its application of the express
i've word of the parallels. "The gospel
of until " is designed to teach high
or lesson, one more in consonance with
the spirit of the gospel than the per-
sistence Of mankind in good works,
good as that lesson undoubtedly is. The
Advance expounds the parallels to bring
out the force of the word, but it fails
wofully in its application. Its gospel"
is not the gospel of the fifteenth chap
ter of Luke.
Will it be information to the Advance
to understand that the ultimate recov-
cry of the lost through the instrument
tality of the Saviour's mission and
work, is the direct teaching of these sew
eral parallels in Luke's gospel2 That
they are grouped together in beauti-
full cluster for the encouragement of
our faith in the persistence of the
Saviour and his unwavering devotion to
the work committed to his charge, "a
work in which all the divine energies
of love are enlisted a? The "until' be-
comes expressive and finds it's highest
meaning in reference to that Saviour's
mission and work with regard to hui
manity. 1t is to this that the parallels
point unerringly and with no POSSIBLE
ity of mistake. The parable Of the lost
sheep, and the piece of silver, and the
prodigal son, all relate to the recov-
cry of the sinful; and the lesson which
is clearly taught, is that the Saviour is
to continue his seeking and saving
work "until'' that work reaches its
grand consummation that he is to
seek the lost ones of the fold ''untilo he
RECEIVERS them, and until" success
crowns the unwearying devotion of Sa-
viour's love. That beautiful hymn
which is now so popular in Evangelical
churches, "The Ninety and Nine"
voices in sympathetic melody the
teachings of this chapter, and indeed,
of Christianity. The good shepherd
leaves the flock and goes out seeking
the lost one "until'' he finds it; and only
then does he return with rejoicing to
the fold. So the woman in the parable
also seeks diligently ''until'' she finds